Item Info

Media Type: Photographic Prints
Source: Automobile Reference Collection
Notes:

General Motors Motorama 1953-1956

General Motors’ experimental Firebird II is the first American gas turbine passenger car specifically designed for family use on the highway.

Successor to the Firebird I, America’s first gas turbine passenger car which was introduced by GM in 1953, the new Firebird represents a report from General Motors to the nation on GM’s progress in gas turbine development.

Designer of the Firebird II is Harley J. Earl, GM vice president in charge of styling staff. He also designed the original Firebird.

Firebird II, powered by a new gas turbine engine, has been tested at GM Proving Grounds tracks and successfully operated on public highways. Its engine, developed by GM Research staff, features a regenerator – or heat exchanger – which recaptures more than 80 per cent of the exhausted heat and uses it to heat incoming air. With this revolutionary regenerator, the Firebird II gas turbine engine gives promise of being able to operate as economically as today’s piston engine cars.

The body of the Firebird II is made of titanium, a metal of the approximate strength of steel but weighing little more than aluminum. This marks the first time that an auto body has been constructed from the “wonder metal” titanium. Although plentiful in the earth, titanium presents problems so far as welding and plating are concerned. It is non-corrosive and immune to salt water atmosphere.

Firebird II was designed by Mr. Earl so as to be adaptable for use on electronic highways of the future, if such highways ever become reality. The theory of electronic highways is featured in the 1956 General Motors Motorama, of which the Firebird II is the automotive star. Al though the theory of electronic highways is not new, Firebird II is the first automobile ever designed for adaptation to such a highway. On such a highway, all cars would be controlled electronically for direction, speed, and spacing interval, thus eliminating driver error from automobile operation.

Firebird II also features special all-metal brakes, a central hydraulic system, an air-oil suspension system, and other features developed by GM research and engineering in cooperation with other GM divisions.